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The National Committee for Quality Assurance's State of Health Care Quality Report 2013 found about 51% of children covered by commercial and Medicaid HMOS get BMI assessments, and referrals for nutrition counseling have increased by more than 5 percentage points. Data showed vaccination rates also increased, but failed to reach 2008 levels.

Related Summaries

The National Committee for Quality Assurance's State of Health Care Quality Report 2013 found about 51% of children covered by commercial and Medicaid HMOs get BMI assessments, and referrals for nutrition counseling have increased by more than 5 percentage points. Data showed vaccination rates also increased but failed to reach 2008 levels.

Minnesota-based accountable care organizations Essentia Health and HealthPartners were the first to obtain the National Committee for Quality Assurance's level 3 ACO accreditation. The groups were selected for their commitment to promote efficient and coordinated care to patients. The ACOs were evaluated based on several criteria including the ability to protect patient rights and privacy and adoption of performance data to boost care quality.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance is creating an outcomes-based measurement tool that uses EHRs to assess care for heart disease and diabetes patients. NCQA President Margaret O'Kane said widespread adoption of the Global Cardiovascular Risk Score tool "could have a profound impact on health care costs because it assesses how well providers engage in prevention and goal-setting for their high-risk patients."

Six accountable care organizations have been accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance since the NCQA started accepting applications in March of last year. The groups with accreditation include Essentia Health, HealthPartners and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.